Derry Greyhounds: Blue Jig Molly catches attention in M1 Petfoods Semi-Finals

It was all credit to the hard work of the Track Management Team on Monday that ensured the track was safely prepared for racing after a day of persistent rainfall. The 8 race programme featured the 3 semi-finals of the M1 Petfoods and Track Lotto Sprint. Amongst the winners it was a night of singing and dancing for the Que Sera Sera Syndicate owned Its Showtime Syd and the owners of Blue Jig Molly.

Racing got underway over the 300 yards and it was the Dylan Porter trained Porthall Tess (Malachi x Antigua Vows, Jan ’23) that won on her career debut from trap 6 for owner Kyle Porter. Well away from traps, Tess was up with the pace entering the first turn but made her winning move when sweeping around the outside of her rivals and staying on strongly up the straight to win by 5 lengths in 17.22. It was a polished performance that ticked a lot of boxes and bodes well for her future.

Races 2, 3 and 4 decided the finalists for the M1 Petfoods and Track Lotto Sprint which will take place next Monday. Blue Jig Molly (Broadstrand Bono x Minnies Yulia, Nov ’22) continued her rich vein of form following up on her win over course and distance last Monday with another gutsy display of front running from trap 5 to win the 1st semi-final in 16.93 by 3 lengths from Comer Runaway in second.

This was her third win in a week as this William Berry trained pup for the Cheap As Chips Syndicate also fitted in a win at Mullingar on Friday with a 29.33 clock over the 525 yards.

Brendan McLaughlin’s Culmore Queen (Ballymac Cashout x Culdaff Lady, Oct ’22) followed up on her Johnny McLaughlin Memorial Sprint Final win a fortnight ago by landing the 2nd semi-final of the M1 Petfoods and Track Lotto Sprint in an identical time to the first semi-final of 16.93. Queen was only moderately away from trap 1 but showed good early pace to hold the inside rail position at the first turn. She drove the bend hard and stretched into an unassailable lead crossing the line with 4.5 lengths to spare over runner up Tuttles Timmy.

After a dry spell since his last win in October 2023, Shaun Eastwood’s Lindas Lad (Azza Azza Azza x Hayeses Turbo, Jul ’20) made it 13th time lucky as he navigated his way from trap 2 to victory in the 3rd semi-final of the M1 Petfoods and Track Lotto Sprint. Moderately away from boxes, Lad was lying in third place at the first turn but he tucked in behind the leaders round the bends and when a gap opened up for him on the inside rail, he stormed into the lead and crossed the line in 17.20, 2.5 lengths ahead of Coppeen Derek who claimed the last qualifying spot for next week’s final.

Brandywell; Race 3, The M1 Petfoods And Track Lotto Sprint, 2nd Semi-Final, was won by CULMORE QUEEN in 16.93. Pictured with Cyra McLaughlin & Gavin Donnelly.

Arguably the most deserving victory of the night was by the Stephen Radcliffe trained Its Showtime Syd (Droopys Sydney x Rushmoor Tess, Apr ’21). This lightly raced 3 year old proved that every dog has his day and Syd’s Day was Monday at Brandywell over the 500 yards when he relinquished his maiden tag on his 12th start. He landed race 5 in 28.53 for his syndicate owners Que Sera Sera after a slow start from trap 6.

He tucked in behind the leaders at the first bend and found himself in a share of the lead exiting the second bend. He got his head in front by the third bend and managed to hold off the late charge of Bobbers Grace by 0.75 lengths to reward his patient owners and trainer with something to sing about.

The O’Neills sponsored bag of dog food went to the winner of Race 6 over the 500 yards. Ex-Mullingar/Shelbourne regular Yacht Ned (Malachi x Annual Parlena, Jul ’21) was having his first race at the Brandywell since arriving at Sean Maxwell’s kennels. He had won the RCETS A4 Final at Shelbourne in October last year and clocked a smart 28.89 win there in December but the resulting hike in grade meant he’s since had 18 races without hitting gold.

He had another uphill battle on Monday after a slow start from trap 1. He entered the backstraight in 4th place but showed good pace to be in a race winning position entering the 3rd bend. He tracked cleverly to take up the lead turning for home and ran on strongly to win by 5 lengths in 28.22.

A thoroughly deserving victory for this lad who gave 100% to win on his Brandywell debut.

Colm Sweeney’s home bred Mulroy Mary (Ballymac Bolger x Skirk Illusion, Nov ’22) was paw perfect when winning race 7 over the 500 yards. Moderately away from trap 1, she was offered plenty of room on the run to the first turn. She made the most of the opportunity making the decisive move to lead and run out a 2 length winner in 28.28. This was her second win from only 8 races.

Brandywell; Race 6 was won by YATCH NED in 28.27. Pictured from left; Shane Crossan & Kyle Maxwell.

The action drew to a close with a thriller over the sprint distance. Cahir Mall looked the likely winner as he had a couple of lengths advantage over Roddicks Lindsey on the run to the first bend. Mall moved middle on the first bend and as the field started to close down his advantage he got tangled with Generous Tricast on his outer who was making eye catching progress until that point.

This allowed Roddicks Lindsey to take up the lead but he moved wide on the second bend gifting a clear passage to Townsend Swift on his inside. Swift took her chance and after a slow start from trap 2 and only being in 5th place at the first bend she swept through into the lead on the fourth bend and held her advantage on the home straight by 0.75 lengths for Thomas Brennan to clock 17.19.

Action from Lifford Greyhound Stadium

Sunday night saw the opening round heats of the TIME & Northwest Greyhound Supplies A3 525 get underway and all three heats produced fine performances; the fastest of which being a career best effort for Rough Rocko. Owned by John McQuillan, the son of Good News and Bubby Rose was an easy to bet 4/1 chance in the market, however, he defied the odds as he rocketed from trap five to dispute the early running with Halfway Russo in one. Cutting the nose off his rival at the opening bend, ‘Rocko’ went clear into the back and he set a pulsating gallop thereafter, one of which his rivals couldn’t match.

Crossing the line three lengths clear of Halfway Russo in second, the time was the fastest of the opening round, 28.82. There were just five spots separating the first two heats as Long Claudia and Spring Thing both emerged victorious. Long Claudia (4/1) was first to prevail for Matthew Nixon as his newest recruit benefited from major traffic at the opener to go clear into the back.

In doing so, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Bangla Road manufactured a healthy advantage down the back and she stayed on stoutly to win by three and three parts of a length from How Ya Fixed in second.

The time was 29.17. Shortly after, Spring Thing left it late to justify strong market support for Tyrone handler Micky Corr. Even money at the off, Isinglass set the pace early doors from trap three, however, both Spring Thing and Chubbys Vagabond made rapid inroads down the back before being halted in their tracks at the penultimate turn.

Lifford on Sunday; Race 6 - The TIME/NORTHWEST GREYHOUND SUPPLIES A3 525 Round 1 Heat 3 was won by ROUGH ROCKO in 28.82. Winning ownerJohn McQuillan (left) with his grandson Jack McQuillan & granddaughter Darcie Doherty.

Not to be deterred however, Spring Thing stepped it up a notch on the run for home and the daughter of Black Parachute stuck her neck out to notch a fifth career victory. Chubbys Vagabond equally impressive in second, the time was 29.12. 

On the undercard, there was a terrific performance from Glenadda Bill as he produced figures rarely seen at the Northwest venue over the sprint trip. Owned by Hugh Jackson, the even money favourite didn’t break too fluently but showed eye-catching early gears to breeze past his rivals on the run to the opening bend. From there, the son of Broadstrand Bono was in a class of his own as he powered up the home straight to win by five and a half lengths. The time was a blistering 17.29.

Across both Saturday and Sunday meetings, there were three kennel doubles as John Grieve, Alan Byrne and Kevin O’Kane all tasted success. For Grieve, Zoos Isak (Broadstrand Bono - Zoos Sophie) got the ball rolling as he made it three wins from three starts. Only a December pup, he justified 4/6 favouritism to see off Ardnasool Lady by one and three parts of a length. The time was 17.85. Shanahee Monty (Ballymac Wild - Slaneyside Twink) was next to follow as he also justified heavy support to win at his leisure. Running from five, he made every post a winner to win by four and a half lengths in 29.14.

Kevin O’Kane enjoyed a fine half hour as both Extreme Golddust and Sniper Ava scored in back-to-back races. For ‘Golddust’, she is making a habit of pinging out to make every yard as she broke best of all from two to win comfortably by two lengths. The time was a career best effort, 29.14.

Prior to that, ‘Ava’ notched another win for the Sniper Ria litter as she too blitzed her rivals with a masterclass of front-running. Making the most of a plumb pitch in one, she nipped around in front before drawing clear to win by a convincing six and three parts of a length. The time was 29.36.

Lifford on Sunday; Race 3 - The NWGOBA BUY A BUSTER S1/S2 325 was won by GLENADDA BILL in 17.29. Pictured with his trainer; Dessie Kerrigan.

Sunday night saw Alan Byrne seal a big-priced double as both Flush Seskin (7/2) and Snooty Liam (3/1) won in easy fashion. ‘Seskin’ was first to score for Wendy Robinson and Robin Little as she showed excellent early dash to slay her rivals in the opening yards. In doing so, the daughter of Explosive Boy maintained a smart gallop to win by three lengths in 17.79.

Jointly owned by Matthew Kirk and Mark Boddice, Snooty Liam was to follow as he was on the receiving end of his best ever break to lead from four. Trouble in behind saw ‘Liam’ shoot into a commanding lead down the back and he showed the superior stamina to emerge a four length winner. The time was 29.19.